Stocking or hose supporter.



Patented Sept. l8, I900.

y A. CROCKETT. 5100mm on HDSEW'SUPPORTEB.

(Application filed may 7, 1900.)

(No Model.)

JNVENTOR:

WITNESSES WM A TTORNEI "UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

LILLIAN A. OROOKETT, OF INIQIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

STOCKING OR HOSE SUPPORTER.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,170, dated September 18, 1900.

Application filed May 7, I900. Serial No. 15,727. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it I; nown that I, LILLIAN A. OROOKETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stocking or Hose Supporters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to devices that are designed to be worn by human beings and whereby the tops or portions of stockings or hose worn by them which cover the lower portions of the limbs may be supported or prevented from slipping down the limbs, and has reference more particularly to stockingsupporters that are especially designed for the use of females.

One object of the invention is to provide stocking-supporters of the above-mentioned character which may be worn or employed independently of any other article of wearing-apparel, garment, or device usually employed for carrying the supporters, so that vital parts which may already be overtaxed by corsets and the like need not be further burdened in the supporting of stockings.

Another object is to .provide means for placing the burden of supporting the stockings Where no injury can result to delicate parts of the human organism, so that all constriction or compression thereof may be avoided, while at the same time obviating the necessity of employing corsets or shoulderstraps or garments for carrying the supporters of the type whichare carried by the body of the person.

The invention consists in a flexible member adapted to adjust itself and fit to the human form about the back part thereof and frictionally adhere thereto over the pelvic girdle and above the hip-joints and elastic members attached to the flexible member and adapted to extend therefrom to the top of stockings and having devices attached therei to adapted to clasp or engage the stockings, and the invention may also include an elastic member connecting the ends of the flexible member and adapted to fit and adjust itself below the abdomen.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l repra figures of the drawings designate similar parts.

In construction I provide a member having a peculiar saddle-like form, which may be termed a yoke A, which is adapted to rest easily against the lower part ofthe back 72 of the body F and extend around the pelvic belt a distance approximating two-thirds of the circumference of the body, the ends a a of the yoke extending downwardly at the sides of the body at a suitable oblique angle, so that the yoke bears overthe region of the hip-bone 1' (indicated by broken lines) and above the hip-joints j j, avoiding a contact and pressure over the region of the kidney or other delicate organ that may be liable to injury at the back, which are located above the position occupied by the yoke. Any suitable flexible material may be employed in making the yoke, such as woven fabric, and may be suitably ornamented, if desired' The yoke is considerably broader at 'its center than at its ends for the purpose of cansing it to adhere frictionally and prevent slip:

ing, as from the center b of the-upper edge to the lower edge e, and in plan the whole is suitably curved at the edges andtapering from center to ends to enable it to gracefully fit the form of a wearer and sit comfortably. About the center the edge b'projects considerably, so as to lie in the hollow portion of the form, which is vertical, and thus act as a frictional pad to prevent longitudinal movement of the yoke under the intermittent strains when the wearer may be moving.

At each of the ends a ct of the yoke A, I suitably attach thereto a member which I term a Suspender C and also a similar suspender D, both being attached, preferably, at the same point, although they may be somewhat separated; but they project from the yoke in the same general direction, yet at differing angles, one extending somewhat close to a straight line with the yoke, but so as to extend downwardly over the front of the limb f or h to the inner side thereof, while the other suspender extends down over the front to the outer side of the limb. Each suspender is of suitable length and is provided at the free end d thereof with a suitable clasp or fastener E, adapted to be removably attached toa stocking 7c. The suspenders are either wholly or in part elastic, as may be preferred, according to circ mstances, whether made extremelylong or comparatively short. I

An elastic narrow brace B is attached at its ends to the ends a a of the yoke for the purpose of preventing the yoke from shifting, the yoke and the brace forming a continuous band or belt surrounding the body at an oblique angle, the brace hearing at the front m of the body, so as to gentlypress upwardly against the bottom of the abdomen, and thus being beneficial in this respect to manypersons. Personshavingt'ullhips may not require the brace, as the usual clothing may prevent shifting of the yoke; but when loose garments are worn, especially by children, the brace is desirable for retaining the yoke in proper position when the person is in sitting posture and the strain upon the suspenders relaxed. When constructed without the brace B, as shown, the suspenders may be worn so as to cross one over another and be attached to the stockings on the limbs opposite to the respective ends of the yoke.

It will be obvious that I may vary the proportions considerably from those shown within the scope of myinvention Without detracting from the utility of the devices-as, for instance, the suspenders may be adjustable longitudinally, and so may the brace be made, and either or both may be detachable from the yoke, if desired; but in its simplest form all parts may be made and be equally operative when permanently connected together as if they were integral members.

The points of novelty and utility are embraced in the peculiar form of construction,

so that the supporter bears over or about the pelvic girdle, where no ill eifects maybe produced; that the shoulders, chest, and waist are left free for action; that the devices do not interfere with the circulation or nerve supply of the lower extremities; that pressure upon the kidney is avoided as Well as downward pressure over the uterus and ovaries, which is so harmful to females, Where other supporters are sustained by corsets and similar waistbands, and that there can be no injurious constriction of, no pressure upon, nor weight borne by any organ of the body, as is the case where other supporters are used.

In practical use the devices maybe placed in the positions substantially as represented, so that movement of the limbs may not be restricted. If all parts are attached together, the belt may be drawn either over the upper part of the body or over the lower part, and when provided with detachable parts maybe readily drawn about the form and connected at the proper position, and a great degree of comfort and relief will he enjoyed in the use of these devices.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A stocking-supporter comprising a yoke formed of a section of material having a central projection extending therefrom so as to bend over and lie in the vertical hollow of the back of the human form and-having a length extending from the center of the back downwardly. and obliquely to the sides of the pelvic girdle without the ends thereof meeting, said yoke being curved so that the centralportion may stand nearly vertical while the end portions thereof may lie smoothly in somewhat twisted positions against the form, whereby the strains when in use are applied directly upon the pelvic-girdle, and suspenders so attached to said yoke so as to draw the same into frictional contact with the body about the pelvic girdle.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described appliance for support ing stockings and consisting of a saddle-like member to rest frictionally against the back of the human form and extending downwardly obliquely about the pelvic girdle to the front of the limbs and there bifurcated and extending thence down opposite sides of the limbs and connected to the stockings, and a tiebrace for said member, whereby the strains through the connection with the stockings be sustained by the pelvic girdle, as shown.

3. In stocking-supporters, the combination with the yoke having the stocking-suspenders attached thereto, of the projection extending from said yoke so as to be pressed by the garments into the vertical hollow of the back and cause frictional adhesion, and the brace connected at the junctions of said suspenders with said yoke, substantially as set forth.

4:. In stocking-supporters, the combination with the yoke having the brace connected therewith, of the projection extending from said yoke so as to be pressed by garments into the vertical hollow of the back and cause frictional adhesion, and the suspenders attached to said yoke at the junctions thereof with said brace, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LILLIAN A. CROCKETT.

Witnesses:

WM. (3. THoMrsoN, E. T. SILVIUS. 

